THE NATIONAL HUMAN CAPITAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION (NHCCE) 2023 – NORTHERN REGION APPRECIATION DINNER

SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW

THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

FOR THE NATIONAL HUMAN CAPITAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION (NHCCE) 2023 – NORTHERN REGION APPRECIATION DINNER

WEDNESDAY, 31ST MAY 2023

 

Good evening, Salam Sejahtera and Salam Malaysia Madani, everyone.

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Tuan V. Sivakumar, the Ministry of Human Resources, and HRD Corp (the Human Resource Development Corporation) for extending an invitation to me and the Penang State Government to this dinner. It is indeed an honour to be a part of your very first National Human Capital Conference & Exhibition (NHCCE) event outside of the Klang Valley.

I would also like to extend my appreciation to Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak, the esteemed Penang State Governor, for joining us tonight. Your presence graces this occasion, Tun, and we are truly humbled to have you here.

My heartfelt thanks also go to the Penang Skills Development Centre for representing the state and being an integral part of this immensely important Conference. Well done, PSDC! You have definitely made us proud.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I was absolutely delighted to learn that the first day of the Conference was a resounding success. The speakers' ability to incorporate local perspectives and context into their discussions was truly impressive. Furthermore, I was pleased to hear that all the discussion tracks developed by HRD Corp, catered to the specific needs of our industry players in Penang, Perak, Perlis, and Kedah.

These in-depth discussions have indeed transformed the Conference into a veritable birthplace for modern local human capital solutions and a catalyst for the region to elevate the role of human resources. For that, I would like to say thank you for your willingness to participate in and share your experience during the Conference.

I am confident that tomorrow's sessions will be equally enlightening and engaging, and I eagerly anticipate joining you all.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This conference, along with tonight's dinner, symbolizes the spirit of friendship and camaraderie between Penang's industry players and HRD Corp as they join forces to propel Malaysia's human capital onto the global stage. It also serves as a testament to the effective and strategic inter-governmental cooperation between the State Government and Federal Ministry.

Looking ahead, I firmly believe that such collaborative efforts should not end with the conclusion of NHCCE 2023. Instead, we must strengthen these partnerships and develop more strategic initiatives to enhance our workforce and talent development endeavours.

This cooperation should extend beyond human capital initiatives and encompass other socio-economic development programmes that benefit the people of Penang and our counterparts in the northern region. It is imperative as we strive to build an inclusive and harmonious society anchored in the MADANI principles of Sustainability, Prosperity, Innovation, Respect, Trust, Care and Compassion.

As for now, I invite everyone to sit back, enjoy this evening's dinner and experience the hospitality that Penang is renowned for. We take great pride in our culinary excellence, which I am certain you will enjoy not only tonight but throughout your stay in our beautiful Pearl of the Orient.

Once again, I express my deepest gratitude to Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak, for gracing us with your presence. It is a privilege to have your support for this collaborative effort and event.

Last but not least, I extend my sincere thanks to the Ministry of Human Resources, HRD Corp, and PSDC for selecting Penang as the host for this highly anticipated human capital event. While this may be our first endeavour of this magnitude, I am confident that it will not be our last. Let us continue working together to create a dynamic local workforce to be reckoned with, not just today but for decades to come.

With that, thank you and have a pleasant evening.

Pejabat Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Tingkat 28, KOMTAR, 10502, George Town, Pulau Pinang